Automated Production Line

ABSTRACT

An automated production line for transferring and processing multiple shoe members includes multiple transferring rail units aligned along a transferring direction, multiple handoff rail units aligned along the transferring direction and alternately arranged with the transferring rail units, multiple transferring unit each being movably mounted to a respective one of the transferring rail unit for transferring the shoe members onto an adjacent one of the handoff rail units, multiple handling units each being movably mounted to a respective one of the handoff rail units and being adapted to transfer the shoe members onto an adjacent one of the transferring rail units, and multiple processing units disposed beside the transferring rail units for processing the shoe members.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of Taiwanese Invention Patent Application No. 106140669, filed on Nov. 23, 2017.

FIELD

The disclosure relates to an automated production line, and more particularly to an automated production line for transferring and processing a plurality of shoe members.

BACKGROUND

With the advance of manufacturing technologies, automated apparatus has been introduced into the shoe making industry. Conventionally, different processing steps of shoes take place at different workstations, respectively. Such conventional processing has rather low efficiency, and requires more labor to transfer semi-finished products among different workstations.

Referring to FIG. 1, an automated shoe production line according to Chinese Utility Model Patent Publication No. 203341116 includes a looped conveyor line 11, a plurality of shoe lasts 12 that are movably mounted to the conveyor line 11 and that are used for transferring multiple shoe vamps (not shown), and a plurality of workstations 13 that are arranged along the conveyor line 11 for processing the shoe vamps. Each of the workstations 13 may perform one of heel counter shaping, vamp connecting, vamp softening, vamp anti-wrinkling, shoelace tying, vulcanizing, roughing, adhesive spraying, drying, pressing, and cooling. The continuous (i.e., endless) conveyor line 11 allows sequential process of shoe members, which saves labor.

However, the shoe lasts 12 have to move simultaneously on the conveyor line 11, one of the processed shoe lasts 12 has to wait for one of the unprocessed shoe lasts 12, which limits the overall productivity. Moreover, the continuous conveyor line 11 limits the total amount of workstations 13 that can be mounted to the conveyor line 11.

SUMMARY

Therefore, an object of the disclosure is to provide a molding device that can alleviate at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an automated production line is adapted to transfer and process a plurality of shoe members.

The automated production line includes a plurality of transferring rail units, a plurality of handoff rail units, a plurality of transferring units, a plurality of handling units and a plurality of processing units.

The transferring rail units are aligned along a transferring direction. The handoff rail units are aligned along the transferring direction and are alternately arranged with the transferring rail units. Each of the transferring units is movably mounted to a respective one of the transferring rail units, and is adapted to transfer at least one of the shoe members along the transferring direction onto an adjacent one of the handoff rail units. Each of the handling units is adapted to transfer a corresponding one of the shoe members along the transferring direction onto an adjacent one of the transferring rail units. Each of the handling units includes a first handling assembly that is movably mounted to a corresponding one of the handoff rail units. The processing units are disposed beside the transferring rail units. Each of the processing units is adapted to process a corresponding one of the shoe members at a time when the corresponding one of the shoe members is moved on a corresponding one of the transferring rail units.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent in the following detailed description of the embodiment and variation with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an automated shoe production line according to Chinese Utility Model Patent Publication No. 203341116;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment or an automated production line according to the present disclosure for transferring and processing a plurality of shoe members;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view, showing a transferring rail unit, a handoff rail unit, a transferring unit and a handling unit of the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the embodiment being configured into two parallel rows;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary schematic view of the embodiment; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing transferring path of the shoe members.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before the disclosure is described in greater detail, it should be noted that where considered appropriate, reference numerals or terminal portions of reference numerals have been repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements, which may optionally have similar characteristics.

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, an embodiment of an automated production line is adapted to transfer and process a plurality of shoe members 2. Each of the shoe members 2 may be one of shoe last with a shoe vamp sleeved thereon and a shoe sole. The automated production line includes a plurality of transferring rail units 3, a plurality of handoff rail units 4, a plurality of transferring units 5, a plurality of handling units 6 and a plurality of processing units 7.

The transferring rail units 3 are aligned along a transferring direction (X). In this embodiment, the transferring rail units 3 are arranged in two parallel rows (L1, L2), and two of the transferring rail units 3 are respectively located at the downstream ends of the parallel rows (L1, L2) along the transferring direction (X).

It is worth mentioning that the arrangement of the transferring rail units 3 may be changed according to practical applications. For example, in certain embodiments, all of the transferring rail units 3 may be aligned along a straight line that extends along the transferring direction (X).

Each of the transferring rail units 3 includes a transferring rail 31 that extends in the transferring direction (X), and two positioning cylinder 32 that are respectively disposed at opposite sides of the transferring rail 31. Each of the positioning cylinders 32 includes a telescopic positioning member 321.

The handoff rail units 4 are aligned along the transferring direction (X), and are alternately arranged with the transferring rail units 3. Two of the handoff rail units 4 are respectively located at the upstream ends of the parallel rows (L1, L2) along the transferring direction (X).

Each of the transferring units 5 is movably mounted to a respective one of the transferring rail units 3, and is adapted to transfer at least one of the shoe members 2 along the transferring direction (X) onto an adjacent one of the handoff rail units 4. Specifically, each of the transferring units 5 is movable between an input position (see one of the transferring units 5 located at the right side in FIG. 5), where the transferring unit 5 is at an upstream end of the corresponding one of the transferring rail units 3 and is adapted for receiving the corresponding one of the shoe members 2, and an output position. (see the other one of the transferring units 5 located at the left side in FIG. 5), where the transferring unit 5 is at a downstream end of the corresponding one of the transferring rail units 3 and is adapted for outputting the corresponding one of the shoe members 2.

In this embodiment, each of the shoe members 2 is one of the shoe last sleeved with the shoe vamp and the shoe sole. Each of the transferring units 5 is adapted for transferring two of the shoe members 2, and includes a first supporting assembly 51 provided with a clamp adapted for holding a corresponding one of the shoe members 2 when the corresponding one of the shoe members 2 is configured as the shoe last sleeved with the shoe vamp, and a second supporting member 52 provided with a conveyor adapted to support a corresponding one of the shoe members 2 when the corresponding one of the shoe members 2 is configured as the shoe sole.

Each of the handling units 6 is adapted to transfer a corresponding one of the shoe members 2 along the transferring direction (X) onto an adjacent one of the transferring rail units 3. Each of the handling units 6 includes a first handling assembly 61 that is movably mounted to a corresponding one of the handoff rail units 4. The first handling assembly 61 of each of the handling units 6 is movable on a corresponding one of the handoff rail units 4 between a feeding position (see each of the first handling assemblies 61 on the row (L2) in FIG. 4), where the first handling assembly 61 is adapted to receive a corresponding one of the shoe members 2, and a discharging position (see one of the first handling assemblies 61 located at the left side on the row (L1) in FIG. 4), where the first handling assembly 61 is adapted to transfer the corresponding one of the shoe members 2 onto the first supporting assembly 51 of an adjacent one of the transferring units 5.

Each of the handling units 6 further includes a second handling assembly 62 that is mounted to the corresponding one of the handoff rail units 4, and that is adapted to transfer a corresponding one of the shoe members 2 onto the second supporting assembly 52 of the adjacent one of the transferring units 5.

In this embodiment, the first handling assembly 61 is a handoff device for pushing and moving one shoe member 2 from one transferring rail unit 3 onto one handoff rail unit 4, and the second handling assembly 62 is a conveyor.

The processing units 7 are disposed between the rows (L1, L2) of the transferring rail units 3, and beside the transferring rail units 3. Each of the processing units 7 is adapted to process a corresponding one of the shoe members 2 at a time when the corresponding one of the shoe members 2 is moved on a corresponding one of the transferring rail units 3. In certain embodiments, each of the processing units 7 may include a robotic arm, and may be used for performing one of vamp roughing, adhesive applying, pressing and drying.

During operation of the automated production line according to the present disclosure, the first handling assembly 61 of the handling unit 6 at upstream of the transferring direction (x) is moved to the feeding position (see the dotted arrow (A3) in FIG. 6), followed by respectively placing the shoe last and the shoe sole onto the first handling assembly 61 and the second handling assembly 62. Then, the adjacent transferring unit 5 is moved to the input position (see the dotted arrow (A4) in FIG. 6) and the first handling assembly 61 is moved to the discharging position (see the solid arrow (A1) in FIG. 6) such that the first supporting assembly 51 and the second supporting assembly 52 of the adjacent transferring unit 5 are respectively close to the first handling assembly 61 and second handling assembly 62 of the upstream handling unit 6, after which the shoe last and shoe sole are respectively transferred onto the first supporting assembly 51 and the second supporting assembly 52 of the adjacent transferring unit 5. The adjacent transferring unit 5 is then moved to the output position (see the solid arrow (A2) in FIG. 6). In the meantime, the first handling assembly 61 of the upstream handling unit 6 is moved from the discharging position back to the feeding position (see the dotted arrow (A3) in FIG. 6) for receiving the next shoe last and the next shoe sole. The adjacent transferring unit 5 at the output position is operable to transfer the shoe last and the shoe sole to the handling unit 6 located immediately downstream thereof, followed by moving from the output position to the input position (see the dotted arrow (A4) in FIG. 6). In this way, the shoe last and shoe sole can be effectively transferred and processed along the transferring direction (X).

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, it is worth mentioning that, during operation, the transferring units 5 on adjacent two of the transferring rail units 3 are moved in opposite directions. That is, when one of the transferring units 5 is moved downstream, the other one of the transferring units 5 is moved upstream, thereby allowing a corresponding one of the processing units 7 to sequentially process the shoe members and promoting production efficiency.

Referring to FIG. 3, since the processing units 7 may come into contact with the shoe members 2 when processing, the telescopic positioning member 321 of each of the positioning cylinders 32 is operable to fix the first supporting assembly 51 and the second supporting assembly 52 of a corresponding one of the transferring units 5 on the transferring rail 31 when a corresponding one of the shoe members 2 are processed on a corresponding one of the transferring rail units 3.

The automated production line of this disclosure allows the user to increase the number of workstations (i.e., the processing units 7) by providing more transferring rail units 3, handoff rail units 4, transferring units 5 and handling units 6, and further promotes the production efficiency.

While the disclosure has been described in connection with what are considered the exemplary embodiment and variation, it is understood that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiment and variation but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An automated production line adapted to transfer and process a plurality of shoe members, said automated production line comprising: a plurality of transferring rail units that are aligned along a transferring direction; a plurality of handoff rail units that are aligned along the transferring direction and are alternately arranged with said transferring rail units; a plurality of transferring units, each of which is movably mounted to a respective one of said transferring rail units and is adapted to transfer at least one of the shoe members along the transferring direction onto an adjacent one of said handoff rail units; a plurality of handling units, each of which is adapted to transfer a corresponding one of the shoe members along the transferring direction onto an adjacent one of said transferring rail units, each of said handling units including a first handling assembly that is movably mounted to a corresponding one of said handoff rail units; and a plurality of processing units, which are disposed beside said transferring rail units and each of which is adapted to process a corresponding one of the shoe members at a time when the corresponding one of the shoe members is moved on a corresponding one of said transferring rail units.
 2. The automated production line as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said transferring units is movable between an input position, where said transferring unit is at an upstream end of the corresponding one of said transferring rail units and is adapted for receiving the corresponding one of the shoe members, and an output position, where said transferring unit is at a downstream end of the corresponding one of said transferring rail units and is adapted for outputting the corresponding one of the shoe members.
 3. The automated production line as claimed in claim. 2, each of the shoe members being one of a shoe last sleeved with a shoe vamp and a shoe sole, wherein each of said transferring units is adapted for transferring two of the shoe members, and includes a first supporting assembly provided with a clamp adapted for holding a corresponding one of the shoe members when the corresponding one of the shoe members is configured as the shoe last sleeved with the shoe vamp, and a second supporting member provided with a conveyor adapted to support a corresponding one of the shoe members when the corresponding one of the shoe members is configured as the shoe sole.
 4. The automated production line as claimed in claim 3, wherein each of said transferring rail units includes a transferring rail that extends in the transferring direction, and two positioning cylinders that are respectively disposed at opposite sides of said transferring rail, each of said positioning cylinders including a telescopic positioning member being operable to fix said first supporting assembly and said second supporting assembly of a corresponding one of said transferring units on said transferring rail when a corresponding one of the shoe members is processed on a corresponding one of said transferring rail units.
 5. The automated production line as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first handling assembly of each of said handling units is movable on a corresponding one of said handoff rail units between a feeding position, where said first handling assembly is adapted to receive a corresponding one of the shoe members, and a discharging position, where said first handling assembly is adapted to transfer the corresponding one of the shoe members onto said first supporting assembly of an adjacent one of said transferring units.
 6. The automated production line as claimed in claim 5, wherein each of said handling units further includes a second handling assembly that is mounted to the corresponding one of said handoff rail units and that is adapted to transfer a corresponding one of the shoe members onto said second supporting assembly of the adjacent one of said transferring units.
 7. The automated production line as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transferring rail units are aligned along a straight line that extends along the transferring direction.
 8. The automated production line as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transferring rail units are arranged in two parallel rows, said processing units being disposed between the rows. 